How To Be Brave

Return to the cottage

The hunters finally knew to escape by tying their clothes together. When they got down again, they were very cold.

We walked through the circle of giant stones. "Where are these wisps?" I muttered.

"Come out, wisps. Come on out", Jack called. "Lead us to the witch's cottage. We're here!" I sighed.

"Fine. Don't come out now dad's watching." Named one growled. "We were standing right here and the wisp appeared right there", I pointed.

"Then a whole trail of them led us off into the forest", Jack continued. Dad growled again and walked out of the circle.

"Does he think we're just going to happen upon the witch's cottage?" I asked irritated. Jack shrugged and we ran after dad. At some point I stopped. "Dad, I know this place." He turned around. "The witch's cottage..."

"It's this way! Come on! Hurry!" Jack completed. We started running, until we came at the cottage.

"I can't believe it. We found it." I ran to the door and... There was no one. "No. She was here." I closed the door. "No, really, dad. She was just here." Dad rolled his eyes. It was kinda weird to see a dragon do that.

"Wait", Jack said. "Remember that time she snapped her fingers and it was completely different on the inside?" I nodded and he snapped his fingers. We tried again several times, but it stayed the same. I entered the cottage once more. My foot touched a thread, which made a bell ring. There was a whole system that finally made a certain potion drop into the big cauldron. It began to smoke and bubble. I stepped closer. The witch's head rose from the cauldron.

Welcome to the Crafty Carver, home of dragon-themed carvings and novelties. I am completely out of stock at this time. But if you'd like to enquire about portraits or wedding cake toppers, pour vial one into the cauldron. I frowned. If you'd like the menu in Gaelic, vial two. If you're one of those lads with the auburn or white hair, vial three. We looked at each other. Jack handed me the vial and I pulled the cork out of it. To speak with a live homunculus... I poured the liquid into the cauldron. Prince, I'm off to the Wickerman festival in Stornoway and won't be back until the warm months. I frowned. That was pretty long. There's one bit I forgot to tell you about the spell. By the second sunrise, your spell will be permanent. I gasped loudly and turned to dad. He looked shocked. As far as I could tell. Toothless had never looked shocked before. Unless you remember these words. The cauldron turned red.

Fate be changed

Look inside

Mend the bond

Torn by pride

The coudron turned blue again. "Fate be changed... Mend the bond", I repeated. "What does that mean?"

One more time, the head spoke. The caudron turned red again.

Fate be changed

Look inside

Mend the bond

Torn by pride

That was it. Ta-ta. And thank you for shopping at the Crafty Carver. She disappeared. Jack and I looked at each other.

"Oh-oh." Suddenly, we found ourselves out of the cottage. Then it locked. Like that wasn't even bad enough, it also started to rain. Jack and I made a sort of harbourage, while dad just sat there. "We'll sort it out tomorrow", I told him. I tried to smile, but he turned away. Jack hugged me tight as I looked up to the dark sky.

*Flashback*

Dad was singing mom's special song. Jack and I played. It was raining outside. Suddenly lightning struck. We yelped and ducked under dad's blanket. He carefully pulled it off. "My brave wee lads, I'm here. I'll always be here." Soothed by his sweet voice, Jack and I hugged him. He continued singing and we did our best to sing with him.

*End flashback*